Right to Repair; Densimetric sorting; Urban olive harvest

13 December 2024

Brought to you by Australian & New Zealand Olivegrower & Processor www.olivebiz.com.au

Today's top story

Holiday season wishes from the AOA and the FOE team

This is the last edition of Friday Olive Extracts for 2024, as we’ll all no doubt be way too busy with Christmas preparations to read a newsletter next week.

New Year is a ‘better things to do’ time too, so FOE will be taking a couple of weeks’ break and will return with your weekly dose of olive industry news and information on 10 January 2025.

Best wishes to you all for a safe, happy and healthy holiday season, and a great start to the new year.

Gerri and Sandy (the Friday Olive Extracts team), AOA CEO Michael Southan and AOA Administration Manager Liz Bouzoudis.

Australia

Farm sector applauds agricultural Right to Repair recognition from nation’s Treasurers

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has strongly welcomed the announcement by the Board of Treasurers that Right to Repair for agricultural machinery is a key element of national competition policy reforms.

Agricultural Commodities Report December 2024

The latest figures from ABARES show that Australia’s agriculture sector is headed towards a value of $88.4 billion this financial year, the second highest on record.

The new report contains ABARES forecasts for the value, volume and price of Australia’s agricultural production and exports to 2024–25. Download the full report and data here.

Contractor dies after being trapped under excavator at Fraser Coast macadamia farm

A farm contractor has died after being trapped under an excavator in Queensland's Fraser Coast region.

The 55-year-old man was working on a macadamia farm on Tuesday afternoon and was an employee of an irrigation service contractor.

Not a positive note to start on but an important reminder about ensuring that correct OH&S practices are being followed by anyone working on your – or anyone else’s – property.

National Fire Ant Eradication Program says misinformation is hampering extermination efforts

Australia's fire ant authority says "downright dangerous" misinformation spread on traditional and social media is hampering its efforts to eradicate the pest.

Got something to sell? Or want to buy? Go direct to your target market – olive growers and producers

If you’ve got something industry-related to sell, you can reach your target market directly with Olivebiz Classifieds. Our online Classifieds service is an easy and inexpensive solution to advertising your unwanted equipment. And if there’s something you’re looking for, it’s the ideal way to get the message out loud and clear to your peers and industry associates – the most likely to have what you need.

Olivebiz Classifieds cost just $40 for AOA members ($100 for non-members), including a text ad and link through to either your web page or images hosted on our site. And you don’t need to be a tech-head: just send us your info and we’ll post it up for you.

Olivebiz Classifieds are online now at www.olivebiz.com.au/classifieds. To arrange a listing, contact Gerri at editor@olivegrower.com.au.

Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme no longer working, senate told

Farmers and producers say a scheme designed to alleviate the cost of shipping goods across Bass Strait isn't doing its job, forcing them to either charge more for their products, or wear the costs themselves. They want to see the "clunky" old scheme reviewed each year, and streamlined, particularly to suit smaller businesses.

Having purchased Tasmanian EVOO and paid almost as much for the shipping, I’m backing this call!

Farmers for Climate Action finds most regional residents impacted by renewables are supportive

A new survey shows strong support for renewables projects across regional communities. (Supplied: Tadgh Cullen)

New research released by Farmers for Climate Action shows strong support for renewable projects on farmland among regional communities. A nationwide survey found 70 per cent of residents living in areas affected by renewable projects were supportive of them, based on findings from 1,000 people.

Another part of the necessary ongoing discussion on the topic.

Land of Plenty: Australia a food superpower, if we want to be

For the last 12 months, 14 of Australia’s most experienced industry leaders and board members from across the food value chain volunteered to investigate the necessary food industry reforms and advocate priorities needed to transform the food system. It says Australia’s food industry has the potential to become a “second engine of economic growth”, mirroring that of the resources sector, but only if urgent action is taken to transform the system in the face of multiple challenges.

International

Densimetric sorting can improve the quality of olive oil

Scientists discover a cost-effective, density-based method to sort olives, significantly enhancing extra virgin olive oil’s quality and flavour.

UC Davis event highlights olives’ role in a climate-proof food system

The low water and fertilizer needs of olive trees make them natural candidates for a drier climate. The conference highlighted technological advances to improve oil yield and quality, climate-smart growing practices, circular uses for byproducts, taste tests and more.

Listen: The volatility of Spain's olive oil prices isn't as easy as supply and demand

After reaching record level highs in January, olive oil prices in Spain are now dropping, causing worry among olive oil producers.

Friday Olive Extracts – send us YOUR news

The year is almost done and the Friday Olive Extracts (FOE) team is taking a short break, before returning on 10 January to continue bringing all the latest industry news and events to your Inbox every week. THE place to share olive industry news, event details and reminders, our industry e-newsletter keeps growing in popularity and we now have nearly 3000 subscribers across the globe. If you’re not one of them, you can sign up here.

And please remember that FOE is YOUR e-newsletter, so we’re keen to receive your news and help spread the word. Just email your information to the editor at comms@australianolives.com.au - it’s free, and the best way to reach your fellow industry members!

Olive oil: revenue up by more than 16%

Tunisia has maintained its position as the world’s leading exporter of olive oil outside the European Union, according to the latest official statistics released by the Ministry of Trade. The country is gearing up for a promising season, with production forecast at one million tons of olives and a total of 200,000 tons of olive oil, an impressive 11% increase on the previous season.

BYU runners use olive oil to win NCAA championship

Brigham Young University’s cross country team won the NCAA national championship using a secret weapon to survive cold temperatures, The New York Times reported. The school’s men’s cross country coach said his runners used “an old-school running trick” by rubbing olive oil on their legs as a way of keeping themselves warm.

In case you needed yet another use for our incredibly versatile product!

Urban olive harvests: A lifeline amid Greece’s soaring oil prices

Photo: AFP

On the bustling streets of Glyfada, a seaside suburb of Athens, an unusual scene unfolds: nets spread beneath olive trees as workers harvest their fruit near a bus stop. What began a decade ago as an initiative to help vulnerable residents has now become a growing trend across Greece.